TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE SPRING CUP: United on course for quarter-finals

THIRD Division United FC have one foot in the quarter-finals of the Spring Cup after seeing off second division Bradford United Reserves after their first leg meeting at Clarendon Academy finished 4-0 in favour of the hosts.

Daniel Wosik’s goal earned United a half-time lead. Jakub Koman made it 2-0 early in the second period before Bradford had the chance to get on the score sheet but the missed a glorious chance to get back in the game when Tim Bruton had his penalty saved by keeper Lucas Bareja.

United then made Bradford pay for the penalty miss with Shavon Allen, playing his first game since suspension, added number three and the substitute will hope that he killed off any hopes of a Bradford fightback when he doubled his tally to give United a 4-0 win on the day.

The winners of the tie will meet Lacock.

The Lamb Reserves 1(3) Trowbridge Rangers 1(7)

THE all-third division affair saw Lamb Reserves with a mountain to climb if they were to keep the hopes of Spring Cup glory alive when they hosted local rivals Trowbridge Rangers at their Whaddon Lane base.

Lamb who trailed their guests 6-2 from the first leg, were always going to be up against it but although they exited the competition they can take heart from their performance which saw claim a creditable 1-1 draw against their in-form guests who earned a 7-3 aggregate win.

Ryan Underwood gave Lamb a half-time lead, but they had to settle for a draw after Adam McLaughlin netted a second half equaliser for James Goddard's side who face Westwood News for a place in the semi-finals.

The Stiffs 2(2) Polenez Westbury 4(5)

AFTER losing the first leg of their first-round clash 1-0 with the Polenez Westbury at the start of the month and having suffered a 2-0 loss in their league meeting last weekend, it was always going to be something of a tall order for The Stiffs to progress to the quarter-finals.

Ade Giles' side, however, showed plenty of desire and driven on by an impressive display from Dave Carroll they gave themselves a chance.

But despite Carroll’s first-half double turning things around Polenez fought back in the second half to win 4-2.

Sebastian Koszycki erased Stiffs advantage before Michal Koszycki swung the tie back in favour for Polenez.

Further goals from Koszycki and Modul Abraham won the game for Polenez to earn them a 5-2 aggregate success and they will face Trowbridge Town Reserves next weekend looking for a place in the last four.

Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves 3(7) Heytesbury 4(4)

HEYTESBURY arrived at Lambrok Road trying to overturn a four-goal deficit from their Spring Cup first leg clash against Division Two stablemates Trowbridge Wanderers Reserves and after a stunning first-half showing, what, before kick-off looked to be a mission impossible was anything but as Kieran Edwards side had bagged three goals to get themselves back in the tie.

However the villagers were unable to complete the job as Wanderers fought back in the second period and, although losing 4-3, their 4-0 lead from the first leg was good enough to earn them a 7-4 aggregate win to set them up with a quarter-final tie away at Zeals this Saturday.

Craig Sheppard kept the tie alive when he headed Heytesbury ahead on 15 minutes and they were given more hope a minute later when Brendan Hind drove in from 20 yards.

A second from Hind in the 38th minute put the villagers 3-0 up and an unlikely turnaround was on the cards.

A shell-shocked Wanderers were forced into a change of formation at the interval and Matt Rusling’s side were vastly improved in the second half and knowing the importance of the first goal they raised their game.

All Heytesbury' good work of the first 45 minutes was undone early in the second period as goals from Will Browning, who scored a sublime strike from 25 yards and Mike Ritson whose 25-yard free kick eluded everyone, made it 2-3 to swing the tie back to the way of Wanderers.

Heytesbury’s heads may have been down but they kept plugging away and scored a fourth on 62 minutes when Brendan Hind scored from the penalty spot to complete his hat-trick and give the villagers a 4-2 lead on the day.

Any hopes the visitors to Lambrok may have had of leaving Trowbridge with a quarter-final spot disappeared when Steve Jackson tapped in a fourth for Wanderers.

Westwood News v Worton & Cheverell - tie awarded to Westwood News

WITH Worton & Cheverell only able raise eight players for their Spring Cup first round tie away at Westwood News, Paul Sperring's side opted to withdraw from the competition rather than take a depleted side to Bobbin Lane.

Westwood News will host third division Trowbridge Rangers in the quarter final tie.

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